The Packers kick off the NFL's 100th season in Chicago on Thursday night and I have never been more ready for an NFL season to start in my entire life. 

Here's a look at what to expect from both sides of the ball and my sure-to-be-incorrect call on who wins the game. 

When The Packers Have The Ball:

This, of course, is the big mystery heading into this one. How will Aaron Rodgers play in Matt LaFleur's system? What exactly IS that system? Will it be as dependent on the running game as we've heard all offseason? Can the offensive line hold up when it's time to utilize play action? (I mean, outside of right guard, its the same guys as last year and they sure as hell couldn't then...)

I tend to buy what LaFleur was selling early on when he talked about "building the Packers offense" instead of just bringing some version of what Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay have been doing. Neither of them have ever had close to the talent and experience at quarterback that LaFleur has in Rodgers. This will enable LaFleur and Rodgers to incorporate things from the previous offense in Green Bay that Rodgers had mastered. I know no one wants to give Mike McCarthy any credit for anything, but he absolutely laid the foundation for the quick spread game attack that Rodgers is so lethal with. 

When teams do to the Packers what the Patriots did to the Rams in the Super Bowl, LaFleur will have the quick game counter up his sleeve that McVay didn't have. 

We saw the offense practice it a few times during training camp, where the offense spread the personnel out five wide and Pettine just brought different pressures on every snap. Rodgers carved it up each time. 

I think if and when things stagnate against the Bears on Thursday night (and I suspect the running game will) look for LaFleur and Rodgers to push the tempo and go to this quick, spread game. And it will probably come out of 21 personnel, hopefully catching the Bears with base personnel on the field. (Danny Vitale in the slot. Be ready.) 

My camp favorite, Danny Vitale makes a leaping grab on a deep wheel route from Rodgers in move the ball period.

— Mark Daniels (@markdanielsWNFL) August 5, 2019

I know Khalil Mack will get the spotlight leading up to this game, and for good reason. He's an incredible player on track for a Hall of Fame career. But to me, this whole game can be wrecked by Akiem Hicks. The Bears defensive tackle doesn't get the same kind of publicity as guys like Aaron Donald or J.J. Watt, but I'm here to tell you he is an absolute one man wrecking crew who has come to chew bubble gum and kick ass...and he is all out of bubble gum. 

Hicks is one of four defensive tackles with 7+ sacks in each of last three seasons and he has 23 sacks since 2016, good for 5th-most among d-tackles. In short, Lane Taylor, Corey Linsley and newcomer Billy Turner are in for a long night. 

If the Bears are able to slow down the running game without committing an extra body in the box, which I suspect will be the case, Rodgers is going to have to be efficient from the pocket and LaFleur will need to be patient and probing with his play calls. 

Speaking of Rodgers in the pocket, I thought Kurt Warner nailed it in regards to what went wrong last year and what we need to see from the Packers quarterback starting Thursday night:

"He's got to get back to playing in the rhythm of the offense." @kurt13warner is one of the few people on TV I pay attention to when it comes to breaking down Rodgers' game. As usual, he's on point here. pic.twitter.com/OZ46ukm8ZP

— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) September 4, 2019

This will be LaFleur's biggest challenge. Getting Rodgers to trust the design and the rhythm of the offense and to lean into the structure rather than breaking from it at the slightest sign of pressure. Obviously, this is easier said than done going up against one of the league's best fronts in their house on opening night. 

Rodgers obviously has a major security blanket in wide receiver Davante Adams, and Adams will undoubtedly see his fair share of targets. But the Bears will most likely roll coverage his way much of the evening and it will be up to guys like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jimmy Graham, Geronimo Allison and Jake Kumerow to make hay against the Bears secondary. Prince Amukamara checked Adams much of last season and I doubt that changes much under Pagano. Kumerow in particular should find some favorable matchups. 

When The Bears Have The Ball:

Here's the thing.

I know Packers fans have spent the summer making fun of Mitch Trubisky. I get it. He certainly has limitations as a passer and, as it turns out, that's pretty important when it comes to playing quarterback in the NFL. 

But I have to say, the more you watch his film from last year, the more you see a guy who definitely found a way to make plays against the Packers defense, usually by escaping pressure and using his mobility to either find something downfield or just tuck and run it and live for another down. It was maddening to watch. There were plenty of instances where the initial part of the play is won by the Packers defense, only to have the young QB escape and make something happen. 

Obviously, that's not sustainable over the long haul of his career, but right now it's a legit problem for Mike Pettine. 

The Packers defensive coordinator has been handed a bunch of talent by Brian Gutekunst and he'll need to utilize all of it on Thursday night.

The biggest key to me is making sure whoever is asked to get after the quarterback on passing downs comes in under control. So many times last year you saw outside linebackers, corners, safeties - you name it - come screaming into the offensive backfield for what should have been a sack only to be outmaneuvered by Trubisky. Pettine simply must get these guys to honor their rush lanes and keep the young gun penned in. 

The Bears have a number of play makers and one of the biggest ones matches up well against the Packers when you look to the outside. Allen Robinson had a bunch of plays in both games last year where he broke open for what should have been a positive play, only to have Trubisky miss him with the throw. (One of the worst of these was Robinson on Kevin King in the redzone where the Bears wideout burned King off the line and should have had an easy touchdown if not for the quarterback air mailing it to the sideline.) I don't know how much we'll see Jaire Alexander matched up on the much bigger Robinson, but it feels like that's the way to go. Even with the size difference, Alexander's tenacity and technique are their best bet at slowing down the imposing receiver. 

#Packers CB Jaire Alexander took some lumps in man coverage vs Julio, but was never outmatched. It'll be valuable experience in his development. You can always count on his physicality/willingness to stick nose in... We only get 11 - everyone must tackle!https://t.co/vQNvwFBGBS pic.twitter.com/9cZ4cEol3F

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 12, 2018

Now, Matt Nagy is no fool and he's not going to have Trubisky dropping back 45 times on Thursday night. I expect rookie running back David Montgomery to get a lot of work, not only running between the tackles where he certainly thrives, but out of the edge and in the passing game as well. Kenny Clark is the headliner for the Packers defense up front, but I suspect second year lineman Tyler Lancaster to have an important role in trying to keep the Bears running game in check. Yes, Dean Lowry just got paid and is the starter, but look for Lancaster to play a lot on a rotational basis and to help keep Blake Martinez clean so he can make tackles near the line of scrimmage rather than 5+ yards downfield. 

Enough Already, Who Wins?

Packers fans don't want to hear it, but the Bears are good football team. Extremely talented on both sides of the ball with a bright, aggressive coach in Nagy who did a great job with this squad his first year out of the gate. Yes, Pagano is a step down from the departed Vic Fangio, but not the huge advantage that some Packers fans seem desperate to pin their hopes to. 

I think both teams will move the ball and, especially in the second half, we'll start to see them trading scores. Ultimately though, I expect the Bears to win by 3 - but here's the catch. If any and all Bears field goals are kicked prior to the last five minutes of the game, I have no doubt the Bears will prevail.

But if Eddy Pineiro lines up for a field goal at the end of this game, turn off the TV and start celebrating because there is no way - after the absolutely absurd tomfoolery that Nagy rolled out looking for a kicker this offseason - that this kid doesn't watch his soul disappear as he tries to send the Bears to victory.